Hansons-Brooks Athlete Surprises at U.S. Club Cross Champs

By Scott Bush

Hansons-Brooks first-year runner Corey Conner (Twitter | Bio) shocked the field at the USATF Club Cross Country Championships in Bend, Oregon this past weekend, placing sixth overall, beating some incredibly tough competition. The former All-American at the University of Maine ran tough over the challenge course, showing her future is very bright.

We caught up with Conner this week, discussing her fantastic run in Bend, how the transition to life as a professional runner is going and much more.

Scott Bush (SB): Congratulations on a terrific race in Bend over the weekend. What was the race like for you? Just how challenging was it?

Corey Conner (CC): Thank you very much. The race was definitely like no other cross country race I've done before. Initially from the start I was very tentative and found myself in a very bunched pack of runners for the first 2k. Things started to string out after that and I gained some momentum heading into the last two laps through the course so I was able to work my way up to 6th place.

The course was very challenging, hands down the hardest cross race I've done. It was hilly, very winding, tough footing, and pretty treacherous downhill sections; basically a bunch of scary sounding adjectives, haha. After the first lap around you could feel the huge toll it took on your body.

SB: Your sixth place performance surprised quite a few fans. Did it surprise you?

CC: Haha, yes me as well! Initially heading into the race I as feeling pretty good from a training stand-point. Kevin and Keith Hanson did a very good job preparing us by trying to have us do our workouts on tough terrain and in some not-so-pleasant Michigan weather conditions. So I felt like I was well prepared for a tough cross course.

When we did the course preview the day before and I realized how many talented runners were actually running in the race I did start to second-guess my confidence. The course was pretty daunting and the list of women I'd be up against was intimidating as well. I tried to just be calm and confident in myself and let the race play out.

SB: You're a newer member of the Hansons-Brooks team. How has the transition from college to pro been for you?

CC: The transition was actually pretty smooth for me. The coaches and the team here were so welcoming and I really felt like they all made an effort to make sure we all were able to adjust to life out here as quickly as possible. I'm honored to be a Hansons-Brooks team member really, and I feel really lucky that I was given the opportunity to run for the team right out of college. So far the transition is going well, I'm working on building my mileage up very gradually and trying to get used to this different lifestyle where running is your primary focus day in and day out.

SB: What type of training have you been putting in as of late?

CC: I am still not up to any high mileage yet. Both Kevin and Keith have been really great in slowly easing me into a higher mileage training program, so that my body can adapt to the volume. I am between 60-70 right now, which for me was an increase from college, and I feel pretty comfortable at that right now.

SB: What's have you learned that you didn't anticipate when first joining the Hansons-Brooks team?

CC: Before joining the team I didn't realize just how close and family-like the whole team is here. Every team member has individual goals for themselves of course, but we are all kind of invested in each other's goals as well. We run with each other everyday, we work out with each other, and we are all able to help each other get better. In that way every success one of us has is kind of a success for everyone on the team.

It's so exciting to watch, cheer and support everyone on the team as they go off for their races. Everyone on this team is very, very talented; so sometimes you just stop and look back on what you're doing and realize "wow I am so lucky to be running with such a talented group of men and women".

SB: You were a two-time All-American at Maine, specializing mostly in the longer distances. Do you see yourself taking on the marathon in 2014 or still tackling the 10k and road scene?

CC: I think for 2014 my focus will still be on the shorter distances, like the 10k and road races. I feel like I have some unfinished business with the shorter distances and I'd like to see if I could improve there before I make my way up in distance. A marathon still seems pretty intimidating to me right now, haha, so I think I may wait a year or two...or ten, haha, just kidding.